Larvacide and process for preparing same



' Patented Oct. 7, 194.1

UNITED STATE LARVACIDE Ann rrgocsss Foa PREPAniNG waiter D. Martin, Albany, Ga.

No Drawing.

Application March 6, 1940, Serial No. 322,621

Claims. (01. 167-43) This invention relates to larvacides, and has special reference to buoyant larvacides adapted to float upon a water surface.

More particularly the invention relates to the character of larvacides set forth in my prior application for patent for Larvacide and process for preparing same, filed March 2'7, 1939, Serial No. 264,493, allowed October 2,1939, the present application being a continuation in part of the foregoing.

One important object of the invention is to provide a novel, solid and buoyant larvacide composition composed in part of toxic agents and in part of water soluble substances, whereby, upon distributing the composition on water, the water soluble part of the composition will dissolve and the toxic agents be freed.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel larvacide of the class described, whereinthe composition contains oneor more ingredients effecting spreading of the toxic agents in a film upon the larvacide being distributed on a water surface.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a novel composition of this character which will effectively cover the surface of a body of water to which it is applied so that larvae bred in the water cannot issue therefrom without coming in contact with the toxic agents contained in the composition.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide a novel larvacide composition consisting in part of oil and in part of toxic agents, the mixture being of such character as to provide a water borne film having an upper layer of oil and a lower layer of toxic agents upon the composition being sprinkled on a water surface. A fifth important object of the invention is to provide a novel method of manufacturing such a larvacide.

A sixth important object of the invention is to provide a novel method of preparing a larvacide of the character set forth whereby the 'compo- 1 sition is freed from undesirable bituminous mat--' ter. I

With the aboveand other objects in view, as will be presently apparent, the invention consists in general of a novel composition of matter forming alarvacide and a novel method of formingsuch a composition.

It is possible to make several different forms of larvacides in accordance with the present invention, as well as compoundthe compositions set forth in several manners quite within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, there now Example I Parts Pine rosin a 400 Sodium hydroxide", Kerosene 1,000 Water gas tar. 250 Motor oil- 250 Castor oil .i 1 Water, about 50 Example II Pine rosin 400 Sodium hydroxide-; t. 100 Kerosene 1,000 Tar acid nil 250 Bunker C gas oil- 250 Castor oi 1 Water, about -1 50 Example III Pine rosin 400 Sodium hydroxide 100 I Kerosene 1,000 Light creosote oil -4 250 Motor oil 250 Castor oil 1 Water, about 1 7 Example IV Pine rosin pounds 400 Sodium hydroxide do Water do 125 Water gas tar oil pints 1000 Kerosene do 500 Tar acid oil do 250 Example V Pin rosin .J grams 400 Sodium hydroxide-.. do 100 to 125 Fuel oil cubic centimeters 1000 Water gas tar oil do 250 Tar acid oil do 250 Water .4 do 50 to 125 Example VI Pine rosin "grams" 400 Sodium hydroxide, do.. 100 to 125 Crude oil cubic centimeters 1000 Tar acid oil do 250 Water gas tar oi1 do 250 Water dot. 50 to 125' follows examples of compositions conforming to this invention and substantially the proportions thereof:

Example VII Pine rosin grams 400 Sodium hydroxide. do.. 100 to 125 Gas oil cubic centimeters--. 1000 Tar acid oil do 250 Water gas tar oil do 250 Water 'do 50 to 100 Example VIII Motor oil (new or crank case) cubic centimeters 1000 Pine rosin grams 7 400 Sodium hydroxide do 100 to-125 Tar acid oil cubic centimeters 250 Water gas tar oil do 250 Water do 50 to 125 Example IX Pine rosin grams 400 Sodium hydroxide ...do.. 100 to 125 Bunker oil cubic centimeters" 1000 Taracid oil do..' 250 Water gas tar oil j do 250 Water do 50 Example X Pine rosin grams 4'00 Sodium hydroxide do 100 to 125 Solvent or' mineral spirits cubic centimeters 1000 Tar acid oil ..do 250 Water gas tar oil do.. 250 Water do 50 to 100 It will be observed that the pine rosin and sodium hydroxide combine to form a rosin soap.

Furthermore, the kerosene of the first four examples may be replaced by one of the group comprising fuel oil, crude oil, gas oil, motor 'oil, bunkerC oil, and solvent or mineral spirits. In each case, the content of the selected group member will equal 1,000 parts by weight, as compared entire mix is agitated, as the chemical union takes place, which is very rapidly. Agitation is continued until the mass becomes completely solidified into round and irregular shaped gran- 'ules ranging in size from that of shot topieces the size of peas or larger.

In order to obtain the water gas tar oil, the following procedure is had:

Equal parts of kerosene and water gas tar are mixed and heated; when the mass becomes hot. the'bitumen present in the gas tar will precipitate to the bottom and can be removed as solid material. The kerosene and the kerosene soluble part of the gas tar is called watergas tar oil.

25% of the water gas tar will be precipitated I as solid bitumen and 75% of the water gas tar will be dissolved into thekerosene and remain a perfectly thin liquid. The part that is soluble in the kerosene carriesall 'of the mosquito larva toxics. gas tar and one gallon of kerosene is mixed and heated, then abouttwo pounds of bitumen will be precipitatedto the bottom and may be removed as solid and brittle bitumen, leaving 1% gallons of the water gas tar oil. J I

High grade fuel oil or crude oil may be sub- I stituted for kerosene and the same results attained. However, none of the other substitutes will throw the bitumen out. I

Care must be taken tov so proportion the occur while the oils and tar are but partially with substantially halt the quantity of rosin soap quantity of the other .um derivatives may be combined with the rosin;

emulsified.

v Th foregoing process produces a rosin soap containing partially emulsified oilsand tar.

The foregoingprovides an efiective larvacide which has a'number of new and important qualities and forms means to effect the control of larvae, particularly the larvae of fleas, flies and mosquitoes, which has not been possible under methods now prevailing. I

The new product can be made in a solid, flake, or granular form and readily'fioats. It is readily soluble in water but not too quickly soluble and as the material goes into solution, it spreads itself about on the surface, giving of! a highly toxic film, the toxicity of which is derived from the ingredients incorporated in the material.

} Thisbreaking down in solution is not an instan-a the material used. 1

The toxicity or killing-power is the result of to form rosin soap andit is to be understood that sodium carbonate and salsoda. may be used in place of the hydroxide.

As an example of the mannerof producing the composition, Example IV will be particularly considered. In this example the preparation is as follows:

First-Melt the pine rosin to very high heat. Second.-'-Mix the water gas tar oil, kerosene and tar acid oil and heat to fairly hot (slight boiling).

Third.Dissolve the sodium hydroxide in the water, and thoroughly dissolve the sodium hy-' droxide.

Fifth-Slowly add the sodium hydroxide solution to the pine rosin and oil and tar mix. As the sodium hydroxide solution is added slowly, the

' toxicv poitions-whlchhave the efl'ect of saturat .One of the chief qualities is the partially emul-v Fourth-Add the hot pine rosin to'the heated mixtureof oils and tars. ea taneous one, but is in direct ratio to the mass of two definite effects:

(1) It spreads an oily film on the surface ofthe water and as thelarvae emerge from the depths in an'efiort-to breathe, the oily film clogs their breathing tubesand has a suffocating eilect. (2) Just under the; oily film are the highly ing the larvae in the bath of-highly toxic material, thus killing the larvae by contact. 1

It is not necessary to bring the complete body of water up to a killing solution as it is not like most emulsions and most types oi ,larvacides.

siiied toxic material-floating just below the oily him. The material is so activated by its process of incorporation that when molded into a cake of various sizes, then suspended in a flowing stream, it willgive oil a suflicient quantity of killing film to effectively control the entire area of the water surface. thus makin it unnecessary In other words, if one gallon of water cakes of material in the size predetermined that will dissolve and spread themselves about over the water and distribute on the surface thenecessary film, thus eliminating the necessity of sprayers or tanks in such types of work.

' In the treatment of flea larvae, the procedure will be to thoroughly wet down with an ordinary hose or sprinkler the breeding place of the fleas, which is always in a dry and dusty place, to the depth of at least 1 inches. The larvacide is then diluted in water to whatever strength desired and sprayed with a sprayer or sprinkled with a sprinkling can over the surface of the ground so dampened. Its control is very immediate and positive in its effect.

For the treatment of fly larvae, the material is dissolved in water to the strength desired and sprinkled over the surface of the breeding place of the fly which is usually moist and damp.

The material may also be used for other types of larvae and may be used as a spray on dormant vegetation and the treatment of ant hills.

It will be noted that due to the peculiar character of this larvacide, it will float on the surface of water and at the same time will distribute itself due to its mobile qualities over such surface.

I claim:

1. A larvacidal composition comprising a rosin soap impregnated with kerosene; at least one of the group consisting of water gas tar, tar acid oil and light creosote oil; at least one of the group consisting of motor oil and bunker C gas oil, the selections from the groups being combined in a state of partial emulsification; and with castor oil.

2. A larvacidal composition comprising a rosin soap impregnated with kerosene; at least one of the group consisting of water gas tar, tar acid oil and light creosote oil; at least one of the group consisting of motor oil and bunker'C gas oil, the selections from the groups being combined in a state of partial emuls'ification; and with castor oil, wherein the quantity of kerosene by weight equals substantially the combined quantities of the remaining ingredients,'the same being floatable and having mobile qualities.

3. A larvacidal composition comprising a rosin soap impregnated withkerosene; at least one of the group consisting .of water gas tar, tar acid oil and light creosote oil; at least one of the group consisting of motor oil and bunker 0 gas oil, the selections from the groups being combined in a state of partial emulsification; and with castor I oil, wherein the proportions by weight are:

Castor oil Water Parts Rosin soap 550 Kerosene 1000 The derivative of the first group. 250 The derivative of the second group 250 Castor oil l 4. A larvacidal composition formed by mixing by weight Parts Pine rosin V 400 Sodium hydroxide combined to form a rosin soap Kerose I At least one of a group consisting of water gas-tar, tar acid oil and light creosote oil- At least one of a group consisting of motor.

oil and bunker C gas oil With the selections from the groups being in a partially emulsified condition,

5. That method of forming a larvacidal composition'which consists in mixing by weight 1,000 parts of kerosene and 250 parts of at least one of the group consisting of water gas tar, tar acid oil and light creosote oil under the influence of heat, adding thereto 250 parts of at least one of the group consisting of motor oil and bunker C gas oil while continuing the heat and stirring, adding to the stirred mixture 1 part-of castor oil and continuing the stirring and heating, melting 500 parts of pin rosin and adding the foregoing mixture thereto, stirring and heating the mass, dissolvin parts of sodium hydroxide in 50 parts of water, stopping the heating of the mass, adding to the mass the solution of sodium hydroxide and heating and stirring the entire mixture, and cooling the entire mixture while stirring the same.

WALTER D. MARTIN. 

